An Introvert’s Guide to Surviving on the Job

This article was originally posted on The New York Times and is excerpted below. See the full article here.

I’m an ambitious overachiever. I’m also an extreme introvert. I want a career that matters, but my ideal day involves interacting with as few people as possible, avoiding fluorescent lights, and lots of quiet time. Those days are tough to create if you want a big career. 

We live in a culture that equates leadership and ambition with extroversion and being present. That can be difficult for introverts, who may excel at work but struggle with office politics, long hours of being “on,” and overstimulation from noise, light and people in our personal space. The answer is not in giving up — it’s in changing how we work.

Introverts come in all shapes and sizes: Some are shy and avoid being out there. Some love to perform, and need quiet time to regenerate after. (Amy Schumer and Oprah both consider themselves introverts.) Others may fear situations in which they have to interact with people they don’t know or address a crowd. 

But the stimulation of a busy office environment and a tightly packed workday drains all introverts. We need quiet, regenerative time. We need to feel control over our space, pace and place of work. 

If you’re not sure if you’re an introvert, ask yourself the following questions: Do you feel replenished by being alone? Given the chance, would you spend a chunk of your workday in quiet instead of surrounded by co-workers in a buzzy office? If the answer is yes, then you’re probably an introvert. That’s not a bad thing — but it may mean creating success on your own terms.

Read the full article on The New York Times website.